product reviews: warren-tricomi 3-step haircare & dior extase mascara + gilt invite!

Warren-Tricomi PureStrength Strengthener:
So I tried the Warren-Tricomi Strength line for the first time yesterday. OMG. SO GOOD. I don't care what they say, salon haircare IS better than regular drugstore stuff. Actually I only tried "Step 2 --Strengthener" but I don't think I would've been able to handle anymore awesomeness at that time. The Strengthener, used between shampoo and conditioner, targets dry, damaged cuticles to prevent breakage or split ends. It makes the cuticles relax and lie flat so when you rinse it out, its like crazy amazing!! I literally gasped in the shower went I felt the results.

DiorShow Extase:
You want volume? Here it is! I received a sample of DiorShow Extase in my Sephora order last week, and have been getting good results. One problem I always have with mascara is bleedage, a.k.a. raccoon eyes, a.k.a. it just wont stay put! But Extase DOES NOT BUDGE, yet comes off pretty easily with makeup remover. LOVE. Only kind of negative thing about it is the brush is all funky and bumpy. But I guess the point of this mascara is just BIG, rather than beautiful, perfectly even lashes. But hey, I think I'll get used to that.
I use Extase in conjunction with a sample lash primer I got from Shiseido, which I like. Gives me the extension and length, then I slap on Extase.

shampoo galore!

I love Ulta. It's my basic one-stop-shop for all things beauty. I love that they have regular store brands in addition to what they call "prestige makeup," a.k.a. higher end beauty/skincare lines like Smashbox, Benefit, Murad, MD Skincare. I also love that they give out weekly coupons! Plus, they have loads of sale and clearance items. 

So yesterday, I went in to return some cosmetic products that I had bought but hadn't really used. I also went in with the intention of getting a Redken All Soft duo for my trip to Taiwan. But then... I wandered upon Warren-Tricomi products in the sale section... IN THE SALE SECTION. The products, usually retailing from $18-$28 per bottle, were being sold for the ridiculous price of $2.70-$3.75. So as any normal sale monger would do, I bought all the bottles. HELLO 87% off?! YES, YOU BUY ALL.

So now, I have A LOT of shampoo+conditioner. Do you think it's too much? I mean... I'll be giving some to my friend who first introduced me to the product,...so instead of 7 bottles of Warren-Tricomi, I'll have 4, 2 or 3 of which I'll be taking with me abroad. I'm not so crazy anymore, am I? ....You're right, I'm still cray cray as always. 

x,

jex

i heart cupcakes!

Vanilla: love it or hate it?
Personally, I'm not a huge fan with the exception of vanilla bean ice cream. YUM! However, I decided to try out some vanilla cupcakes, using actual vanilla bean, for my vanilla-loving friend's birthday. It was my first time working with vanilla bean. At first I panicked after realizing my middle class suburbia's grocers didn't carry such a unique ingredient. Luckily, I found some Madagascar beans at Cost Plus World Market.


My attempt at Double Vanilla Cupcakes by Garrett McCord of Vanilla Garlic, posted on SimplyRecipes.com.
(Unfortunately, I hadn't yet made the frosting when I took the photo.)

I also made his Coconut Cupcakes in the past so I knew this recipe would be good, even in my hands. With the Coconut Cupcakes, I used a different frosting than what was in the recipe. I was feeling berry zesty (punny!) so I made a blackberry cream cheese frosting and a lime cream cheese frosting. Using Chockylit's frosting recipe, I split up the two batches and simply added a big spoonful of blackberry preserves to one half and lime zest and juice to the other. Voile!

because:

Even though I have a (temp) job now, I still feel unemployed. Maybe it's because I put in the time when I feel like it, or because I just "do work!" Either way, I have a lot of time on my hands. So here goes a new blog, for the more artistic, domestic, and cosmetic things in life; the softer more feminine things.